Mason, Molina Cruise at Arizona 4A Girls High School Champs; Catalina Foothills Wins Team Title

TEMPE, Arizona, November 4. CHAPARRAL High School seniors Emily Mason and Michelle Molina each won two events and swam on a winning relay. But despite the fact that Chaparral won eight of the 12 events, Catalina Foothills won the Arizona 4A Girls High School State Championship at Tempe, November 3-4.

Catalina Foothills wound up with 347 points, edging Chaparral's 344. Arcadia was third with 262.5 points. Catalina Foothills also won the boys 4A team title.

Mason, who just missed making the 2000 Olympic team when she finished third in the 200m butterfly, had little difficulty in winning the 200 yard IM (2:03.80) and the 100 butterfly (55.88). She has won the 100 fly all four years of her high school career. Highly recruited, Mason has narrowed her college choice to either USC or the University of Arizona.

Molina also had no problem in winning her events, taking the 200 free (1:53.52) and the 100 free (52.19). Molina has signed with the University of Texas.

Another Chaparral senior, Kelli Barton, won the 500 free in 5:01.92 (5:01.54p).

Mason, Molina and Barton teamed with Danielle Hildebrandt to win the 400 free relay in 3:37.13.

Freshman Lezah Huff led a 1-2-4 Chaparral finish in the 100 breast to win in 1:07.07. Chaparral also took the 200 medley relay (1:50.21).